BAKUGAN

While eating dinner tonight, our good friend and neighbor Krista stopped by the house to give Mimi a "just because" present. Times being what they are, we all shop the Goodwill Thrift store at times. She said that she went the Goodwill in Bellevue and saw this on the rack. Brand spank'in new. Still had the tags on it and she thought of Mimi. Bless her heart. Mimi could not get into them fast enough to suit her.

WINTER ENSEMBLE

Winter will be here before you know it. In fact I saw on Mimi's school calendar that this coming Saturday marks the official first day of winter. It seems just like yesterday that we were sweltering in 100 degree heat. In fact today we actually had a break in the gloom. Almost everyone was out and about. Mimi and I took advantage of the weather and went out to Target for the snow boots and Uwajimaya for lunch. When we got home we went to the neighborhood park to have some fun. Even Butch got to have some fun playing with the kids.

Mimi has outgrown her ski clothes from last year and is out of the ski bibs. She has graduated to pants. This is only 1/10 th of the snow clothes she has. It is not counting how many pairs of scarfs and gloves and caps she has. The white coat is what she wears to school and you may have noticed the lime green jacket. There is a reason for that and the reason is......it seems that almost everyone on the slopes has either a red or black outfit. The little boys usually wear black or blue and the little girls are in red or pink. With this lime green jacket, we will be able to spot Mimi quite easily. Fortunately as of now she does not need new ski boots but dad says that he is going to take both his and Mimi's ski's in to get the bindings readjusted.

SPY KID STRIKES AGAIN

Last night after piano practice, we called up Sara to see if she would like to go out and have dinner with us at Chuck E. Cheese down by her house and of course she was ecstatic. So that is what we did. While the girls had fun running around playing with the games, saying hello to the mouse and taking pictures, Daphne and mom had a good time enjoying some girlfriend time together. We did call dad to invite him but he said that he was going to stay and work late. Poor guy. Around 6:30 we dropped Sara and Daphne at home and stayed for a while. Sara has gotten Mimi interested in the Spy Kids Movie and she loves all of the equipment that comes with it. While there we got a phone call from dad saying that his car was locked in the parking garage and the attendents had already gone home. Although dad did mention that he would not mind to stay at a hotel/motel, I know dad, he would prefer to be at home in our cozy bed, with his family at home, be able to shower in the morning and have clean clothes available to him. Wouldn't you? Instead of staying at some sleazy motel and paying an arm and a leg? Therefore I told that I would come up there and pick him up. So I did. I packed up Mimi and off we went in the pouring rain driving all the way up to Everett and back. We got home around 11:00 last night. Then again early this morning we took him to work. I came home and dropped Mimi off at school (we were about a hour and a half late) and went right back to bed for a 2 hour nap. Now it's time to clean out my car and get ready to take Mimi to gymnastic practice. The things we do for love.

Collections

Ever since Mimi was a baby she was collecting rocks. I followed her
teachers suggestion and put the in a container however I draw the line
when it comes to leaf collecting.She likes to leave them all over the
house.

DATE NIGHT

Well.....sort of. For the most part it was just a day of R & R. Unfortunately dad had to go and help grandpa with some small stuff to do at the old place. Mimi and I just stayed home and watched a movie "Ratatouille". Actually she watched, I slept. Then I slept some more. Dang, I really did not realize how tired I was. Next thing I knew it was time to take her over to Brandy's while dad and I went out to attend a SGI meeting in Tukwila. Mimi decided that she wanted to go to Halli's in her pj's and so she did. When we got there Mimi was surprised to see that Halli was in her pj's too! I think we need those kind of days sometimes.

When the meeting was over it was time to eat, at least that was what my tummy was telling me and that is what I was listening too. So over to Olive Garden we went in South Center. It was delicious. The company was good too.

FIRST HOCKEY GAME

This week was Jon's birthday and to celebrate we all went to a hockey game. Jon is from Wisconsin and is a huge, huge hockey fan. So is Brandy and now their whole family. Mimi who knows nothing about hockey was having fun rock'in out to songs such as "We will, we will rock you..." and "Born To Be Wild" (which I think may be her theme song). Then when the crowd got quiet, I explained to her how the game is played and since she played soccer last year, she caught on quickly. Our team was the Seattle Thunderbirds. So every other word out of Mimi's mouth was "Go T-Birds!!!" or a "Yo Baby!!!" Brandy just looked at her in astonishment. Hmmm... maybe Mimi got that from listening to me yelling at the Mariners games? Or maybe dad cheering for the UW football team? Can't say which but I think it's me since that's the way I talk.

Wasn't quite sure whether or not we would make the game. After practice and while changing in the bathroom, Mimi had a bloody nose. Since the weather has been cold, the heat is on. At home I has the humidifiers on so the air does not get too dry but at the gym it was very warm. Usually at home I have Mimi take the Q-tip and apply a smidgen of Vaseline to the inside of her nose to keep it lubricated but sometimes I forget to tell her. Then because of all the activities she did during the day, she fell asleep in the car on the way to the game. But then once we arrived at the game, we had time to kill so we stayed in the car and then she woke up on her own I must say.

Today we were all just exhausted.

MIMI AND SARA

Yesterday the Kent school district had the day off for staff development. Daphne still had schooling to go to so Sara hung out with Mimi and I. Sara came to the house around 8:00 so therefore she and Mimi had about a good 45 minutes to hang out together till it was time for us to take Mimi to school. While Mimi was in class, Sara and I helped out Brandy by hanging Halliwell's class's artwork in the hallway. Brandy is a volunteer with the art docent school program. She said that she did not realize how much work it is. That is why I am not doing it. I think that I have just enough to do as it is.

Next thing we knew, Sara and I were starving. I had pictures that I wanted to put on a Costco disc so off to Costco we went to have lunch, get the pictures and do a little shopping. I like to take the back road to Costco. It is so much more of a nicer drive and prettier drive than going down the main highway. Sara seemed to like it too. We had such a lovely time together just her and I. While at the school and waiting in the office for Brandy, I overheard a conversation between 2 students. They looked to be like 3rd graders. The girl says to the boy, "Just how much trouble do you want to get him into?" I looked at Sara (a 3rd grader) and said "Please tell me that you all don't talk like that to each other." Of course the girl say "Nah..."

Next thing we knew it was 12:00 and time to head back home to pick Mimi up from school. They had early release and get out of school at 1:10. So we did. Got home, put Butch on the leash and headed for the school. Butch loves going to school. He gets a chance to see his friends Lola (Pug) and Teddy (Pomeranian).

Well let me tell you, it was raining hard as all get out. Even hail. The kids were quite excited about that "Look at the hail!" they shouted.

Brave woman that Brandy is. She invited Mimi and Sara over to the house to play with Halliwell and Olivia. You have to remember that she has the two babies too, Mc Callister and Therrian. Well...... little McCallister was in 7th heaven with 5 girls to play with. Lots of running, screaming and laugter in the house. In California most moms would send the kids outside but unfortunately for us it is way too wet and cold. Brrrrr.

Mimi and Sara stayed there for about an hour before I called them home then they had about another hour to themselves where they had the music blasting downstairs and dancing up a storm. It was almost as if there was a party going on over here.

Next thing we all knew it was time for Sara to go home and Mimi to head over to Summit for gymnastic practice.